Ohio mall may be closed if asbestos isn’t removed

Toledo, Ohio â€" The Southwyck Shopping Mall in Toledo, Ohio, might end up being closed down after the weekend if its owners don’t clean up the asbestos and toxic mold that was found there. According to a statement from the city of Toledo, Southwyck Mall management will receive 72-hour orders for cleaning up the site. City Building Inspection Commissioner Chris Zervos said that the present condition of the mall is a health hazard for employees and the public, and that management has just 72 hours to clean up the mold and contain the asbestos so that the public is not at risk of exposure. If the problems aren’t fixed by Monday, says the city’s statement, the mall will be closed down. Inspections of the Southwyck Shopping Mall were carried out on Friday May 2. Black mold was found on ceilings in the main concourse of the mall. Asbestos was discovered in a store that is currently vacant but Zervos said that maintenance personnel who entered the vacant area could have inadvertently allowed asbestos to escape the contaminated area. Carty Finkbeiner, Mayor of Toledo, said “I hope it does not come to the point where we have to shut down the mall. If it does come to that, the city of Toledo department of development will work with current tenants to assist them in their relocation efforts.” In addition, said Finkbeiner, “We don’t want to inconvenience these business owners or their employees. But we have a responsibility to protect their health and the health of the general public.” The mall is currently somewhat empty, with just six stores present. Developer Larry Dillin is attempting to buy the site. However, a buyer might get more than they bargain for. Asbestos in one location means it’s likely to be present in many other places in Southwyck Shopping mall. Asbestos was so widely used in construction between the 1940s and 1980s that it might be present in many different materials used to build the mall. Abatement or removal of asbestos can be particularly costly due to the necessary precautionary measures needed when handling and working with the substance. Many states require professionally trained asbestos workers to carry out abatement, and have strict regulations that control how asbestos is removed and disposed of. Disposal of asbestos waste, for example, is around three times more expensive than disposal of non-hazardous waste. Failure to comply with a state’s asbestos laws can bring costly penalties. (Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News)